EXTRACTS FROM THE BLUE BOOK. Copy of a Despatch from Governor Grey to Earl Grey. New Plymouth, New Zealand, March 2, 1847.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 288, 3 May 1848, Page 2

EXTRACTS FROM THE BLUE BOOK. Copy of a Despatch from Governor Grey to Earl Grey. New Plymouth, New Zealand, March 2, 1847.

My Lord, — In the course of yesterday and this day I have had interviews with several bodies of natives upon the subject of the claims of European subjects of her Majesty to various tracts of land in this district, and I regret to state that the majority of these interviews have been of the most unsatisfactory nature. It will be in your Lordship's recollection that Mr. Commissioner Spain, who was specially appointed in England for the purpose of investigating claims to land in New Zealand, after minute inquiries made upon the spot, decided that a tract of 60,000 acres of land had been purchased at Taranaki, in a bond fide manner, for the use of British subjects. Subsequently to this decision of the Commissioner, my predecessor thought proper to set aside the award that had been made, because (as I understand his decision) the claims of certain absentee native proprietors had not been extinguished at the time the original payment was made. My predecessor entered, upon this account, as I believe, into a new arrangement, by which a block of about only 3,500 acres was immediately secured to the Europeans. But Ido not understand, nor can I think, that he intended that the original purchase should be set aside, in as far as those natives were concerned who had originally sold theii land in a bond fide manner, and received payment for it. To my surprise, however, yesterday some of the natives, who were the parties to the original sale, and who had been amply paid for the land they had disposed of, informed me that they intended to stand by my predecessor's arrangement, and to repudiate the first transaction, and that they would neither permit the Europeans to occupy the land they had sold them, nor would they even do so upon receiving another payment ; but they insisted upon the Europeans confining themselves to the block of 3,500 acres. In the same manner the majority of the natives whom I have seen to-day (none of whom were parties to the original sales, but were principally the inhabitants of Waikanae and the country in its vicinity) stated, in the first instance, that they would not, upon any terms, permit the Europeans to move beyond the block of 3,500 acres. A.nd, upon my pointing out that they were actual occupants of large tracts of land along Cook's Straits, that they did not use any land in the neighbourhood of Taranaki, and that thty could not remain here upon account of their enemies, if it were not for the presence of the Europeans, j they stated that some of them intended to come and live here themselves, and that they had plenty of Europeans here. I then pointed out to them that the great majority of them bad not, until recently, advanced any claim to this land, although they were quite aware that the Europeans intended to purchase it (which they had even recommended them to do), as also that the Europeans had eventually bought it and occupied it ; after which they had opened up the country by roads, built houses, cultivated lands, &c, and spent large sums in the improvement of the district; and that, when this had all been done, the natives put forward their claims, and turned the Europeans off, they merely replied, that it was their land, and they would do as they thought proper with it. One of their leading men then asked me some questions respecting a section of 50 acres, occupied by a Mr. Flight, which lies without the block of 3,500 acres, and asked me where I intended that Mr. Flight should settle ? I answered that he was already settled. He then asked when I intended to compel Mr. Flight to retire within the block of 3,500 acres? I answered, Mot at all; but that if any native had a claim upon Mr. Flight's section of land, he should be compensated ; but that, as his claim had not been

advanced until Mr. Flight had occupied the ground, and expended a considerable sum in clearing and cultivating it, I could not permit him to be disturbed. He replied, Very well; but that all the native claimants must be satisfied, and have a good payment, as these hitherto had been very insufficient, and lhat the payment I made in this instance would be considered as a sign of my good intentions for the future. I then asked him how many persons might expect to be paid for this small portion of land ? He replied, that they had arranged that 200 men should be paid. In fact, it is quite clear that, relying upon their great numerical superiority, and anxious to maintain this, they bad determined to allow no more Europeans to come amongst them. At the same time I found the settlers in a state of great distress ; many of them who had brought large capitals with them from England, have now expended the whole of their money, waiting in the vain expectation that they would at last be permitted to occupy their land ; and living from year to year upon that capital which was intended to render their land productive, and which, having been now all wasted, will render tbair land comparatively valueless when it is obtained for them. The numerous complaints made by the settlers, and the bearing and conduct of the natives themselves, convinced me that the natives of a portion of this district regard the Europeans as, in every respect, in their power, and as persons who must submit to their caprice. I thought it proper, therefore, at once to assume a high tone to them, and to acquaint them, that I intended ultimately to carry out the arrangement, the terms of which I would acquaint them with. Before detailing the terms of this arrangement to your Lordship, I think it as well briefly to recapitulate the facts of the case, which led me to form the decision I did. This country was (as is shown from the remains of pahs and cultivation still visible), very densely populated about fifteen or twenty years since by the "Ngatiawa" tribe. They were attacked by the neighbouring " Waikato" tribe. A large number of them were destroyed ; a large number of them led away captive, and the remaining portion of them abandoned their homes and retreated to the country bordering on each side of Cook's Straits, which had previously, as far as the shores of the Northern Island are concerned, been nearly depopulated by a war party led down there by Walker, Nene, and other Ngapuhi chiefs. Only a small portion of the Ngatiawa tribe, consisting of about forty men, returned to the home of their fathers at Taranaki. Affahs were in this state, when the European settlers came to Fort Nicholson ; that place and the surrounding country was sold to them by the Ngatiawa tribe, who recommended the Europeans to go to Taranaki, and purchase land from the natives residing there; they did so. European settlers then went to Taranaki; the country was opened up by roads ; farms were formed ; and the Europeans at last formed a tolerable safeguard against the Waikato tribes. At this time portions of the Ngatiawa tribe, who had been released from slavery, as well as those inhabiting Fort Nicholson and Cook's Straits, feeling reassured by the presence of the Europeans, and regarding them as a protection against their former enemies, began to return to Taranaki, and soon finding themselves numerically superior to the Europeans, (who recently also had suffered some reverses, at Wairau and elsewhere, so that their power was. supposed to be on the decline,) they began to claim the whole district, and to turn the Europeans off their farms. Mr. Commissioner Spain, who was appointed to investigate these questions, came about this time to Taranaki, and, after inquiry, decided that a district of sixty thousand acres had been purchased faom the resident natives. My predecessor, however, in the year 1844, set aside the award of the Commissioner, and further stated, that he would recognise, in their fullest integrity, the claims of the absent members of the Ngatiawa tribe. He, at the same time, re-purchased a small portion (about 3,500 acres) of the district awarded by Mr. Spain, and notified that the remaining poation of the tract of land claimed, was in like manner to be re- purchased. He also required several European settlers to abandon their farms, and to move within the block, paying them a trifling compensation for the loss and injury to which they were subjected. Since that time, various individuals of the of the Ngaliawa tribe, (which is a very liumerous tribe) anxious to share in the expected payment, have been locating themselves temporarily at Taranaki ; and every separate family of the tribe has ben sending up some persons to look after their interests. These individuals have been quarrelling amongst' themselves, regarding their respective claims;, and in order that there might be much to pay for, have prevented the Europeans occupying any additional land, although many hundred

thousand acres of the richest soil are lying perfectly neglected and useless, whilst many European families have been left in comparative want. Indeed, the inability of the natives to adjust their respective claims, now makes them unwilling to allow the land to be sold at all, and they constantly assert that those natives who wish to sell land, have no right to dispose of it. Upon taking a review of the whole of these circumstances, together with our isolated aqd and weak position in this pertion of New Zealahd, the only arrangement I thought could be advantageously made, was to acquaint the natives, that I should order, in the first place, that the most ample reserves for t^eir poesent and future wants should be marked off for the resident natives, ai well as for those who were likely to return to Taranaki ; but that the remaining portion of the coun ry, in that district, should be resumed for the Crown, and for the use of tbe Europeans ; that, in tbe fulfilment of the promises made by my predecessor, tbe value of the resumed land, in its wild and defenceless state, should be assessed by a Commissioner, and that a Court should be appointed to enquire into the native titles to the whole, or portions of the district so resumed ; and that those natives who established valid claims to any parts of it, should receive the corresponding portions of tbe payment to which they would become entitled. But very few of the natives seemed disposed to assent to this arrangement ; but they distinctly understood that it was my intention to enforce it. I trust that it may meet with ! your Lordship's approval, as the best which could, under circumstances of such difficulty, be made, and as one which, whilst it ensures the interests of her Majesty's European subjects, inflicts no injury on her Majesty's subjects of the native race ; although I fear that these latter, now that their cupidity has been so strongly excited, may, if they think they are stroug enough, endeavour to resist it by force of arms. I have, &c, (Signed) G. Grey. The Right Hon. Earl Grey, &c, &c, &c. P.S. — I have the satisfaction of being able to state to your Lordship, that, since writing the foregoing despatch, I have ascertained that the whole of the Ngatiawa tribe, with the exception of one family of it, named " Puketapu," have assented to the arrangement detailed in this despatch, and that several European settlers have already been put in possession of their lands. I have now every hope that the " Puketapu" family will shortly follow the example of the rest of the tribe. I think that a consideration of their own interests will lead them to take this step ; but should they adopt any hostile proceedings against the settlers, their influence is so trifling, that they cannot cause any great amount of mischief, although certainly they may occasion great expense and trouble to the Government. I will, in the meantime, take care that every precaution for the protection of the settlers is adopted. G. G. (To be continued.)